Step 6: Attach mirror

Step 7: Use

The reflection in the mirror isn't nearly as big as the entire field that will be captured in the photo, so I just use it to target the center of the ...

Inspired by Samsung's new Dual View TL220 digital camera that has a second LCD screen on the front so you can see yourself when you snap your own picture, I velcroed a small mirror to my existing digital camera and saved over 300 bucks!

When I thought about how many pictures I have taken of myself while holding the camera at arms length, I realized that a feature that would allow you to see what you're shooting would actually be pretty darn useful.

The mirror shows exactly what's in the center of the photo, so as long as I can see a nose or an eye in the mirror when taking a self portrait, I can be pretty sure that the photo will come out well situated. Bye bye half-head self portrait photos!

Step 1: Inspired by Samsung

Way to go Samsung - this is a good idea! But, since I've already got a digital camera that meets my needs and hasn't broken *yet*, I thought I'd take 5 minutes and 2 bucks and modify my existing camera to have the same functionality using some old school technology - mirrors baby, mirrors.

Step 2: Materials

This project is dead simple:

Digital Camera

Sticky backed Velcro

Small 1" - 2" mirror (convex is best, flat is ok, concave w/magnification is no good)

Small mirrors are everywhere. Check out mirrors from compacts and make up. The one I liked best was from an "Inspection Mirror" made by "General Tools" bought for 2 bucks from a hardware store.

Step 3: Liberate mirror

Unscrew the wingnut and liberate the mirror from the handle. Then, pry the little bracket off of the back of the mirror using your hands or a pliers. Careful, don't break the mirror.

Step 4: Flatten the back

The bracket leaves two little bumps on the back of the mirror. Since the mirror has got to lay perfectly flat on the camera body to work, use the pliers to squash the bumps down and make it smooth.

Buy a small 2" round convex blindspot auto mirror. The mirror usually has a self adhesive backing which I do not advise on using. Unless you prefer the mirror to be attached to your camera permanently.

Nice work. Here's what I used to do in the pre digital days. If the camera has a regular viewfinder, line it up so you can see light through it from the front. if you can see through the viewfinder from the front, the camera should be pointed directly at you. should be, that is... more and more point and shoots don't have viewfinders, so this trick is quickly becoming obsolete.

I like this tip, which I didn't know about. If there's no viewfinder, why not create a viewfinder on the camera by putting a small tube on the top. When you are looking through it, the lens is pointing at you. Or even better might be just two raised blips, one behind the other on the camera surface. which line up when you are pointing the camera at yourself. These don't need to be big, they could be two small dots of raised paint or two small cut off pin heads. You'd then just need to look at the dots and move the camera so they overlap. This appears to work in a quick mock-up I've tried with a couple of blobs of blutak.

I like this idea a lot! Sadly (or maybe happily), I've got a G10, and there's no room for such a mirror. I plan to make one out of a blind spot mirror for cars and making a bracket to fit to the tripod hole. Need it for videos and such! Maybe I'll make an instructable for it! ;)

Velcro can leave a horrible, sticky mess, at least the type I use, but there is a remedy: Gasoline. Or lighter fuel. Be careful, though, and use a rag just wetted with the stuff, or else you'll destroy the camera.

I didn't find that the brand name Velcro leaves any sticky residue on my camera, but I can't provide any universal assurances. Even if it does, you could always use some of that Goof Off to remove it. I've always found that stuff to work quite well.

Great Idea! I was thinking about something along the lines of this, but just couldn't figure it out, that was right after I heard about the samsung camera on Gadget Pron. What Lumix camera is that? model?

A lot of folks don't realize it, but most cell phone cameras have this feature built-in. Ever notice that little shiny silver dome-shaped thingy right next to the lens on your cell phone? That's what it's for!

About This Instructable

Bio:I've worked for Instructables off and on since 2006 building and documenting just about everything I enjoy doing. I am now the Creative Programs founder and manager for Autodesk and just finished bui...read more »